In vivid detail adapted from authentic nineteenth century slave narratives, Josiah describes a harrowing, inspirational journey from the tobacco fields of Virginia over the Allegheny Mountains north to freedom.

Written in the form of a first person slave narrative, the heart of the novel takes place on a Virginia plantation in 1857. Young Josiah tells the story of Mose, the plantation mechanic, who built his crude flying machine over twelve years, working in secret, deep in the woods under the cover of night. One morning, Josiah and two young friends, all children of slavery, mount the homemade flier and push off the mountaintop. Defying death and gravity, cruel overseers, vicious dogs and the lash, the children soar with the birds high above the trees, over fields, roads and rivers, as they fly on the wings of the wind.

On the Wings of the Wind has a contemporary frame—the opening and closing chapters are set in today's world of computers, technology and space travel. An eager young reporter opens the story by interviewing the fourth African-American woman to fly in space, modeled after Mae Jemison who became the first African-American woman in space in 1992. (Astronaut Stephanie Wilson became the second black woman to fly in space in July 2006 and Astronaut Joan Higginbotham became the third in December of that year.) Fictional Astronaut Sharon Brantley reveals that her distant ancestor escaped from slavery on a home-made flying machine and the reporter's hunt to verify her history making story is on.

On the Wings of the Wind is a whimsical, high-spirited adventure through the darkest corners of our American past. Blending fiction and history, science and fantasy, Wings is a celebration of courage, ingenuity and perseverance, a triumph of the human spirit.

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